Connectors of the Two Worlds

Chapter 22

"You're doing great, Miss Sanchez. You're doing great..." Mrs. Briones whispered to me. She came behind me just to tell me those words. She was impressed and showed her thumbs up. I was so moved, my heart even skipped a beat. I'm trying to tame myself but I'm still getting nervous.

I just gave my teacher a nervous smile. I stared back at the audience who are waiting also for the results to come up. We were waiting for about about half an hour or so. I was too mindful of the time. I just wanna wrap this up and go to sleep. I didn't plan on winning anyway.

I shook my head, rubbed my palms, and pulling the hem of my clothes. It's no use. I'm still nervous as hell.

I wandered my eyes and saw Joe's smile. He even texted me with his encouraging lines. I couldn't help but smile. Rex is whooping along with our classmates. I heard most of Wednesday's and Lorraine's yell. I chuckled at the sight. They're all believing in me. But, what if I fail them?

I sighed at my negative thoughts.

Alfred stood up with his handsome and confident look. His smile became the hotspot for girls. Girls from other schools couldn't stop looking at him. He was carrying a pink cardboard showing letters saying: "Go SCH Clan!" He looked so adorable. He must be persuaded by our classmates. I knew he isn't the type to post out a pink board sign. But, he must be enjoying the attention. He has made such a great head-turning scene that most of the teachers ushering the judges and the visitors started to smile at him.

Then, suddenly, my phone vibrated. I saw a text message from an unregistered number.

My eyebrows started to crease as I was opening the message.

Everybody believes in you. No one will bully you again. Thank me later for this. ;) - It was the message I just read.

I creased my forehead even more and my heart started to pound. Who could it be? Who is this person who just texted me?

I looked around, looking at my classmates' faces but I couldn't sense if they're the ones who texted me. They all seemed too engrossed with the waiting time. They were all excited for the announcement.

But suddenly, my heart went into circus. I didn't know what's happening to me. But I feel like I'm beginning to hate this event. I have a bad feeling about this...

Then, I turned to see Alfred's direction. He was smiling at me. A bit smirking but in a good way. He winked at me and continued waving his hands in mid-air while he still holds the cardboard. I smiled. Maybe I'm just nervous. I should relax myself.

After a long ordeal of hearing the emcee thanking sponsors, the visitors, and the judges, he was walking towards the center stage carrying with him a white envelop. That must be the final result.

The contestants with me started to murmur. I even heard Bernie humming nervously. He kept on thumping his feet in sync while he bites his nail. Dorothy, on the other hand, just smirked as if she already knew that she will win this contest. She sat on the monoblock chair with her arms wide open, resting on the other contestant's back rest.

I looked in front of me and focused on my own emotions. Yeah. I'm literally shaking. I couldn't help it. It's past 6 o'clock and the sky is getting dark. We were waiting for eternity for the final result. Everyone is really excited. Schools to be announced as winners will have their great standing just like the old times. I've seen how Saint Claire Academy achieved dozens of awards in Mathematics because of Mrs. Briones' mentorship. This time, it's going to be tough since I am not one of those candidates they think to achieve the same title as before.

I really hated Math my whole life and I didn't know why I'm making myself suffer for this contest.

Maybe... it's because I'm getting tired of being just a normal person. I'm tired of being just a simple student who only complain about difficult lessons at school. I'm just tired of my other schoolmates bullying me because I'm so plain. They loathe me because I'm friends with Rexander. They hate me because I'm not joining any sorority clubs. And this contest is my only salvation.

If I win, no one would ever bully me again. No one will question me for being just me. They will cheer and love me.

So, I did all my best to review all my lessons. I wanted to try my luck. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to put a stop to the bullying that's happening inside my own Alma Mater. But, if I fail... then, I should accept my defeat. I should accept the fact that I'm going to stay unaccepted by some. It's just a matter of time...

The emcee turned on his microphone once again. "And now... this is the moment we've been all waiting for! The announcement of the final result for this year's Mathematics Club: Quiz Bee Division Level!" he exclaimed clearly and opened the envelop. He flattened the paper and read the letters written there. "The winner for this year's Quiz Bee..." Suspenseful music came to play. "The winner for the Quiz Bee Third Place goes to..." The music was getting louder and louder as my heart pounded crazily. I even pinched my own palm just to ease this nervousness that I'm feeling. "Congratulations! San Antonio High School!" A wild noise came from the crowd. The students from San Antonio cheered in front of us. They even prepared a yell.

Bernie was surprised and jumped in happiness. "Oh, my gosh! I won! I won!" he yelled. He didn't see it coming. Earlier during the contest, he was really struggling with his answers. As much as I wanted to help him, the watchers didn't let us talk. We all made our answers on our own.

"Congrats, Bernie!" I greeted him happily. We hugged each other before he let go and walked towards the center.

He received his medal with a smile on his face. The clapping was loud and cheerful. The San Antonio yell is quite bubbly and entertaining to hear. They are showing how supportive they are for Bernie. It made my heart flutter in awe.

"And now, for the Quiz Bee Second Place goes to..." The emcee paused as the music played again. Now, with the drum roll beat. It even tripled the nervousness that I'm feeling inside.

"I want this... I want this... I want this..." I whispered to myself, wishing eagerly without closing my eyes. I want to win. Just a 2nd placer. I don't care. If I have a place, my schoolmates would love me. They will be proud of me. I don't care about winning the first place. I know for certain that I deserve the prize. I just put my hands together and silently prayed on my seat.

Whatever happens, Clan, you're still making a new history. Always remember that... I told myself.

"Congratulations! Saint... Agustine Montessori!" the emcee suddenly announced. The crowd got separated in half. Some were cheerfully yelling and yapping and some were disappointed and just stayed quiet or utterly display their disappointments.

"What?!" Dorothy asked in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing. She even reluctantly walked towards the center with her lips pouting in disappointment. She, then, smiled in front of everybody faking it as she received her medal.

The students from her school started to do their yell for her winning moment. I suddenly stopped when I heard what they were shouting.

"Kill them all! Kill them all! Kill them all!"

I ingesed a lump in my throat because of that. My heart's beating suddenly became abnormal. Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

The text message. I remember. What's with it and why am I hearing the students yelling those alarming words? Why are the teachers not reacting about it? Is it only in my head? I hope it's just like that. I really hope so...

"Thank you..." the emcee laughed. "Everyone seemed to be so psyched about hearing the third announcement. Of course, people would want to hear who's the winner this time... this is the moment we are all waiting for..." The music played again. This time, drum rolls came too loud. "For the winner of the Quiz Bee First Place and the student who will be awarded with Best Math Student is..."

I became helpless and frustrated. The second is already out and I have no more chances of winning this contest. I knew it. I shouldn't have wished too much. I gave up in hoping. Suddenly, everything around me had a defeaning sound in my ears.

"Saint..." The emcee paused again. "Congratulations! Congratulatioms for winning again! Saint Claire Academy!" he finally announced, made the crowd insane.

I just stared blankly at the stage when Bernie nudged me. "Hey, genuis! You won!" He clapped his hands and shook my body.

I stood up, barely delivering the information in my head. I wasn't able to get this sunk into my brain. I just walked towards the center and faced the crowd. Someone had dawned the medal on my neck.  I can see the circular gold plate moved a little with my chest beating with my heart. I even got a trophy.

I saw Joe, Rex, Wednesday, Lorraine and the rest of my classmates yelled loudly, celebrating the final announcement. Afterwards, Mrs. Briones, followed by our classmates, climbed up on stage and ran towards me. They all went to me in their happy state. Some did jump and some did shook my body.

Joe faced me, holding both of my shoulders. "Still not sinking into you yet?" he smiled in a teasing manner.

"Did I really win? Did I really do it?" I asked. My lips started to curve a smile on my face. I couldn't believe it. I won!

"Nope!" He squeezed my nose as he said it. "You just made us all so happy!" He laughed as he let go of my nose.

I punched him on his stomach lightly. "Shut up!"

"Ouch!"

"Okay! Picture time!" Lorraine yelled her words as she invited all of us for a picture. She held her digital camera as we're all getting ready for a wacky pose. "On one... two... three!" She clicked on the button and the camera flashed at us, capturing our crazy moment.

The moment I felt the love and the fun.

I can't stop smiling. I did it. I finally did it.

****

A lady suddenly showed her smirking face as she put the wine glass back to the glass table. She was sitting on the comfy sofa where a man showing his back was looking at the window where all of the students from Saint Claire Academy had celebrated with the victory that I brought for my Alma Mater. The lady has her crooked smile plastered on her face, then hit her wine glass to the floor until it shattered.

The man at the window didn't even move a bit. He's as relaxed as ever. His face didn't even show a hint of anger. He was just as entertained as he was watching me smiling with my classmates, but inside his mind, he was already plotting against me, planning out my death. He became patient with it. Slowly, he orchestrated his new plans, wanting my death to be slow and excruciatingly painful before I actually die.

"How did she manage to win this contest? How about Dorothy? What will happen to her if Father will find out that she didn't make it to the first place?" the lady asked. She's a little worried about Dorothy. She will definitely face the anger of their father after this incident. By that time, she will have to do something to ruin the Voulners' plans. She will never let them win.

The man just smiled while still looking at the students. "Would you want to switch position with Dorothy? You sure love to get in her way, don't you?"

The lady gasped. Her body started to tremble at the thought of their father trying to punish her to death; as if her death isn't enough for him. She suddenly cleared her throat and turned to him again. "What happened? We paid much for this. We all paid them big time! Why is it like this?" she asked him.

"We let our guards down. We underestimated her. I guess she's not just Alfred's connector. She's more important than she appeared to be..." he answered.

"What do you mean?"

The man finally turned around and faced the lady. He appeared to be someone I know. Someone close to me. He smirked and eyed the lady in a calm manner. "She appeared to be one of our needs. We must take her away from the Voulners..."